Life-saving device.



J. J. REGTENWALD.

LIFE SAVING DEVICE.

APPLICATION rum) 111 11. 29, 1910.

' 975,281 Patented. Nov. 8, 1910,

WITNESSES: INVENTOR JWeZE/wa/d I JOHN J. RECTENWALD, OF MOUNT OLIVER BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIFE-SAVING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 29, 1910. Serial'No. 558,387. a

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. RECTENWALD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Mount ()live'r borough, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lifesaving Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a life saving device designed for use in aeronautics, the devicebeing applicable to dirigible balloons and other air crafts.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a life saving device in the form of a parachute that can be easily carried by an aircraft and released to safely land the occupants of the air craft.

,Another object of the invention is to provide a parachute life saving device with novel means whereby the occupants of an air craft can safely land upon the water and propel themselves to land or keep afloat until rescued.

A further object of this invention is to provide a parachute with a detachable cage adapted to support afloating medium and provide suflicient room for provisions, whereby when the parachute is carried to sea, the cage can be easily detached and the occupants of the cage remain afloat with provisions until rescued.

I attain the above objects by a device that will be hereinafter more fully described .and then claimed, and reference will now be had to the drawing forming a part of this specification,.wher e1n there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to*be understood that the structural elements thereof can be varied or changed, as to the size, shape and manner of assemblage without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a front elevation of a life savin device, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a detaclied cage forming part of the device, Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the cage, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the main parachute frame.

In the accompanying .drawing the reference character A denotes a channel shaped metallic ring, preferably made of aluminum or similar light and durable material. Suitably connected to the ring A is a wire mesh or netting D adapted to support a bag B when the same isdeflated or collapsed, the bag B having the edges thereof suitably connected to the ring A. To reinforce the bag- B when the same is inflated and prevent the same from bursting,'I attach ropes C -tothe ring A, these ropes being connected at a central point, as at Z, also by circumferentially arranged ropes Y.

' Connected to the ring A are a plurality Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

of converging supporting cables X having I the lower ends thereof passing through a small aluminum ring E, and the lower ends of the cables are attached to the eyelet W of a snap-hook J, said snap-hook being of a conventional form as commonly used in connection with harness and having a spring pressed latch V. Connected to the snaphook J is the stirrup F of a metallic cage U, said cage being preferably made of drawn aluminum tubing, although hickory or other light and durable material can be advantageously used. The ca e U is adapted to support the occupants o the parachute and is adapted to contain provisions I, the various packages of provisions or other supplies being designated bythe numeralsl to 6 inclusive.

Suitably attached to the bottom of the cage U are pieces of cork G adapted to retain the cage afloat on water when detached from the parachute through the medium of the snap-hook J. p

Hinged or otherwise connected at one side of the cage U is an aluminum casing T provided with a cork bottom G The aluminum casing is hinged, as at S and said casing in an open position is represented by dotte lines designated K. With the casing T in a folded position, it is engaged by clasps R carried by the cage U.

Suitably connected to the sides of the casing T by a clasp P is a folding canoe paddle H, the paddle being made in two hinged sec.- tions, with the handle section M connected to the cage, as at O.

The parachute with the bag B thereof deflated is adapted to be carried by a dirigible balloon and should the balloon be disabled or an elevation reached that is dangerous to.

the occupants of the balloon, they can repair to the cage of the parachute, cut the same loose and descend. The casing T, paddle H and the cork G and Gr are provided for fear the occupants of the cage should land upon water.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new, is:-

1. A life savin adapted to be etachably connected to a parachute, a buoyant body at the bottom of said cage, a casing hinged to said ca e and foldable thereagainst a buoyant b0 y carried by the bottom of said casing, and propelling means for the cage connected with the casing and the cage.

2. A life saving device comprising a cage device comprising a cage 1 adapted to be detachably connected to a 15 parachute, a buoyant body'at the bottom of said cage, a casing hin ed to said cage and! foldable thereagainst, aiuoyant body carried by the bottom of said casing, and a foldable propelling means for the cage carried by the 20 atter andsaid casing.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. REGTENWALD.

Witnesses:

K. H. BUTLER, JOHN L. STEPHANY. 

